Page 29 of Unmasking Love
The hallway is dark as I make my way to the kitchen. I'm walking slowly because without my glasses on and with the tequila in my veins it feels a little bit like I’m on a boat. When I round the corner, I collide with something I wasn’t expecting to be there and I’m also all wet.
What’s happening?
Am I on a boat?
“Shit!” A man curses. No, not a man, Aiden. He whirls around so his back is facing me and the, now empty, glass hangs between his fingers.
“Aiden? Why are you still here?”
“I was getting you water! Why are you naked?”
“I was hot!” I yell back as I shake some of the water off my arms.
“Can you just get into bed?” He pleads.
“But now I’m wet.” I pout.
“Jesus, Harper,” Aiden lifts one hand and runs it through his hair. “I’m begging you, get into bed.”
“Geesh, bossy. Fine. You act like you’ve never seen a naked woman before.” I respond as I head back down the hall towards my bed and climb in. If this is his reaction to me naked it doesn’t matter what kind of sex he likes to have; it won’t be with me. I sigh and use my heels to kick the covers down. “Maybe that’s why Crispin cheated, I never got randomly naked for him.”
“Crispin cheated because he’s a bad person. You had nothing to do with it.”
“You don’t know that.” I say, realizing Aiden is responding to my tequila fueled ramblings with calm rationale.
“Trust me, I thought you were hot before you walked into your kitchen naked.” I hear the faucet turn off and his voice gets closer. “You don’t need to take your clothes off to be attractive.”
I hiccup and it covers my surprise. Aiden thinks I’m hot? He looms over me at the side of my bed and I get a very good idea. Time to run a little experiment. I sit up quickly and reach for his pants. One hand lands on his crotch but the other bumps the new glass of water and knocks it to the ground. He jumps back, ass first, to avoid my pants removal maneuver and knocks over my houseplant.
“What are you doing?” He sounds angry.
“You said I was hot so I was going to, I dunno, touch it.”
“Harper.” Now he sounds disappointed.
“You don’t want me to touch it.” Maybe he’s not into sex at all. That would be way less embarrassing than being rejected for the second time in one day.
“Jesus, not tonight Harper.” He lifts the cover up and I crawl back in. I close my eyes and sigh. “Just go to sleep sweetheart.” I hear as the blankets settle across my shoulders. I’m already too far gone to drowsiness to respond but the endearment stays with me as I pass out.
***
Oh god, I swallowed the Sahara. There is no other explanation for how dry my mouth is. I roll over and reach out to my bedside table. My fingers land in a stainless steel mug filled with water and it’s easier to lick that water off than it is to sit up and bring the glass to my lips.
Baby steps.
Mybrain is pounding against my skull but I don’t feel dizzy or nauseous. The overwhelming feeling of emptiness hits my chest and the last 24 hours come rushing back in a movie montage sequence.
Upbeat moments with Aiden.
Tense moments finding Crispin.
Wallowing moments with Wes at Señior Guppies.
The hangover should be fixed with some electrolyte water and a high protein breakfast.
The heartbreak should be fixed with a healthy dose of work and romance movies.
Like usual.
